Mayweather’s options getting slim in 2015

Floyd Mayweather has two remaining fights on his six-fight deal with Showtime and PPV numbers have been anything but stellar.

In the four fights since signing with Showtime, Mayweather has outpointed Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana twice. The Alvarez fight was easily the biggest of the four and among the biggest fights that could be made for Mayweather. Despite Floyd’s utter dominance of Canelo, it was still great to see him step up to take on a bigger, stronger and younger opponent, who still has his whole career ahead of him.

However, as 2015 rolls around, Floyd Mayweather’s options for opponents is starting to get quite slim. ¬†Obviously the big fight everyone still wants to see, is the mega-fight between he and Manny Pacquiao. Numerous reports say that there have been some talk between the camps, but for the most part, there is still too much posturing going on. There hasn’t been any real headway in negotiations and although Pacquiao continues to say he’s ready to fight, take drug tests, etc., Mayweather seemingly has one demand after another.

So let’s for a second assume that Mayweather-Pacquiao just never gets made. Who else is left out there for Mayweather?

Khan looked impressive against Alexander

†

Well for starters, there is Amir Khan, who was among the front-runners last year to get a fight with Floyd, though ultimately couldn’t land the fight. ¬†Khan fought Julio Diaz, looked terrible and didn’t fight again in 2013. ¬†Fortunately for him, he rebounded nicely in 2014, dominating Luis Collazo and then looking excellent in a lopsided win over Devon Alexander earlier this month. ¬†In his win over Alexander, Khan looked exceptionally quick, moved well, showed off some nice power and finally looked like a deserving challenger. ¬†Obviously there is still the question about his chin, but Mayweather doesn’t exactly go in there looking for knockouts anymore, which could work to Khan’s advantage. ¬†As far as pure boxing skills are concerned, Khan has plenty and may be the only fighter out there that can match (or get close to) Floyd in the handspeed department.

Miguel Cotto’s name has also been thrown around in regards to a rematch of their excellent 2012 fight. Mayweather got hit a lot in that fight, and although the scorecards were still pretty wide in his favor, he had to work hard to win that fight. There will be plenty of fans who say “been there, done that” and surely it’s a fight we’ve already seen. Still, the thought of seeing Mayweather go up to middleweight to challenge for the title would be very intriguing, especially with a Cotto who would be even bigger this time around, and with Freddie Roach in his corner. ¬†Cotto however, has a potential clash with Canelo Alvarez on the horizon if the two camps can come to an agreement, and it would be huge, so Mayweather may not have Cotto available as an option unless that middleweight bout falls through.

Photo: Chris Farina / Top Rank

So if it’s not Khan or Cotto (or Pacquiao), then what?

Danny Garcia just doesn’t seem ready for that fight, and some are asking for Keith Thurman. But while the hardcore boxing fan might dig one of those two, will either sell tickets or PPVs for that matter? The short answer, no. Floyd’s PPV numbers have been going south (as have Pacquiao’s for that matter), and it’s going to take an opponent with a big name and a fanbase to build up interest again. ¬†Fans are starting to speak out with their wallets, which is the ultimate weapon. ¬†Mayweather needs to give fans fights they want to see and the one they’ve been clamoring for is Manny Pacquiao. ¬†Unless Mayweather has a legitimate opponent across the ring from him in his first fight in 2015, you can bank on fans’ interest fading quicker.

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9 Comments

becky

December 29, 2014 at 12:11 pm

mayweather is definitely scared of manny , fraud needs to stop all his crap , take a step outside his circle and have a look at what a fool he is making of himself , manny is entiltled to 50% of the purse and an even playing field , manny will easily bring at least half the paying customers , because like all mayweather fights , most people come in the hope of seeing him get his head knocked off , yes as he said himself , a rich coward.

Boxing fans are poised to continue with and intensify FLOYDCOTT in 2015 and beyond unless the Duck/Chicken grows a pair of balls and fight the Pacman. So remember this. It’s Pacman or FLOYDCOTT for us paying fans who has made this fraud filthy rich. This goes with HAYMONCOTT. These people are the reasons the compelling fights never get made in boxing.

You ain’t make nobody rich. All y’all hatters love to watch him fight to see if he is going to lose. Hey keep waiting cause it ain’t gonna happen. Y’all was talking about Mrs Pacman needs to retire when Marques damm near killed him last year and now because he beat bum ass Bradley and some damm hand picked kickboxer y’all think he’s ready for Floyd. Check this y’all said cotto was who y’all wanted him to fight ( cotto was bigger and stronger) lost. Then y’all came with the One. The one person who y’all knew would beat him( bigger and stronger & undefeated and younger) Floyd said he would son him and he did. Then because chino beat Broner here y’all go again Mayheim. Floyd said even though he’s bigger and stronger I’m gonna stand toe to toe and beat him at his game and did. Then he smashed him at real boxing. Let pacgirl fight canelo or some other top fighter then we’ll talk. Floyd did it why can’t he. Closing he really supposed to have 3 more losses on his record from Marques. So how many losses should he really have. Point blank fight or no fight he will or would have never beaten Floyd. Floyd’s on a level of his own. Period

If Floyd refuses to fight Manny Pacquiao, then he should be taken off no. 1 on the pound-for-pound list with Manny being elevated since this refusal is an acknowledgement that he is inferior to his greatest rival.